Acer GN276HL Review: 27-inch 144Hz Gaming Monitor

The Acer GN276HL 27 inch monitor is a slim and stylish monitor, ideal for gaming and multimedia entertainment. Sporting impressive specs like a 144 Hz refresh rate, 1920 x 1080 resolution and NVIDIA 3D Lightboost technology, this is a monitor that I really enjoyed testing out. I spent some time testing out everything the GN276HL has to offer so I could see if it lives up to expectations.

First Impressions

I’m usually always impressed with Acer products, so when I got the Acer GN276HL monitor, I was already expecting great things. When I opened the box, I immediately noticed the size. At 27 inches, this is a widescreen monitor and the thin screen really highlights this. The super-slim profile looks very stylish and modern and the pop of red color on the X-shaped stand really draws the eye and gives it nice aesthetic feel. The screen is clutter-free, featuring only the Acer brand name and LED Technology mark.

It was heavier than I expected at 10.1lbs, so I was initially caught off guard when I picked it up for the first time, though this isn’t unusual with such a large screen. The X-shaped stand looks great, but I found it wasn’t very steady and it would wobble a little bit if I bumped against the table. It never leaned over or moved while typing, though, so this was only a minor inconvenience. Plus there is an option for a VESA mount if you’re so inclined. It was also pretty easy to attach to the screen, so other users shouldn’t have any difficulty. If you do encounter a problem, the instruction manual is provided anyway.

Once everything was set up, I was eager to test out the display.

Display Quality

This monitor boasts really impressive specs that I found made gaming on the widescreen display a fantastic experience. First, you have the 1920 x 1080 resolution that delivers stunning detail in games and movies. The 10M:1 contrast ratio highlight the deepest blacks and whitest whites so your viewing experience is sharp and clear. I was impressed with the TN panel, which usually is a definitive let down after you’d experience the magic of IPS. However, the TN panel on the Acer GN276HL is pretty great, with wonderful colors that would rival many IPS panels I’ve used. Even just browsing websites looks beautiful with this display.

The NVIDIA 3D Lightboost technology works beautifully. It provides a much brighter display, with far less 3D ghosting than other 3D monitors I’ve tried, so you can really immerse yourself and enjoy 3D games and movies.

I really wanted this great 144Hz monitor to feature AMD FreeSync or NVIDIA G-SYNC technology because it matches the display’s frame rate to the video card’s output signal, you eliminate any tearing effects and also reduce the slow lag that you get with many G-SYNC monitors. With an impressive refresh rate of 144 Hz, you’ll be absolutely spoiled and will never want to go back to the once-standard 60 Hz. I absolutely loved the gaming experience you get with so many frames per second. You notice so many more details you wouldn’t have before and will really be immersed in the game.

Features

The widescreen makes it equally as enjoyable to do work as it is to play games. You can have multiple windows open on this large display, which makes multitasking a breeze. The widescreen isn’t so wide as to cause black borders on the edge of video content though so you can still enjoy all your entertainment easily.

The Acer GN276HL comes with an Energy Star qualification that helps conserve power by putting your monitor into standby mode when it’s not in use. In standby mode, the monitor is almost completely powered off, so you conserve energy. One thing that is a little inconvenient is that every time the monitor wakes up from standby mode, it runs through the Acer intro. This lasts about 7 seconds long and there doesn’t seem to be a way to skip this so it can be a little irking that the monitor doesn’t start back up instantly. Then again, it is only 7 seconds, so it’s not a big inconvenience.

Connectivity

The Acer GN276HL has a few different connection options for linking up your devices. The back of the monitor features 1 HDMI port, 1 DVI port and 1 DisplayPort, so you have a variety of options to choose from and is compatible even with older graphics cards.
You can easily connect your phone or tablet to view content and don’t have to go through a setup, which is a bonus. You can access your content instantly on the big screen.
Conclusion

I really enjoyed the Acer GN276HL monitor. It provides a fantastic gaming experience with it’s HD resolution, great color restoration and 3D technology. The super fast refresh rate will make me incredibly unwilling to go back to anything below 120 Hz and really maximized the gaming experience. Beyond gaming, this is a fantastic monitor that does everything you want it to work efficiently and enjoy all your entertainment. After reviewing the Acer GN276HL, I can definitely give it my full recommendation for anyone looking for a great 27-inch monitor at a reasonable price.

Acer GN276HL Review

Design - 7.8/10

7.8/10

Display - 7.6/10

7.6/10

Performance - 9.2/10

9.2/10

Price/Value - 7.5/10

7.5/10

Summary

The Acer GN276HL provides stunning specs and an impressive 144 Hz refresh rate on a beautiful 27-inch widescreen monitor. Sleek and stylish, this monitor is ultra thin and will fit gaming and workspaces of any size, while looking attractive on any surface. You'll become immersed in the gaming experience with the impressive specs, such as the NVIDIA 3D Lightboost technology and rapid 1ms response time. This is a monitor worthy or even the most enthusiastic gamers.